Gentle Giant weight loss and recuperation thread

[Systematic Chaos]

9/21/06
Day 2
Weight - 455

Well, I promised I would start this once I got my new exercise machine set up, and here it is. I plan to keep this thread alive and inform you all of any and all changes, both good and bad, to my weight and overall well-being. Thank you for joining me on this journey, because this is really and truly my last chance to do what has to be done. I think that with your encouragement and support I will make it. :)

My last visit to the doctor was two days ago, and both he and his office partner looked at my foot and agreed that a regimented wound care regimen is a MUST if I am to save at least one toe on this foot. The second toe has developed a crevasse across the middle joint. What this means is that the circulation there is highly impaired, and if the crevasse deepens the toe could literally die. I got home from the doctor and immediately called the hospital closest to my doctor's office to get an appointment made. I go in for the first time tomorrow. My condition will be assessed, and I will probably have a lot of tests done to determine just how bad the circulation is throughout my legs. There are many things that could be done, including hyperbaric oxygen treatments. My doctor seems to think that my wounds will heal much faster, regardless of the treatment methods used.

On the doctor's scale, where only 3 short months ago I weighed 402, the result came back as - - - on the digital display. I wanted to ask then what the capacity of the scale was but I didn't have the voice for it. Only 2 weeks ago I was 430-ish and within 10 pounds of my lifetime high. I knew then, beyond a doubt, that I had surpassed the old mark. That was confirmed on my home scale this morning. I promise you this much, and that is I sure as hell didn't gain 20 lbs. in two weeks from overeating. This is water weight that I have put on, and the exercise I am getting now, plus a good water pill, should allow me to fall back toward 400 rather quickly. At least, that is the plan....

I went to work yesterday, but Jeanette stayed home to be able to accept the delivery of my new recumbent bike by UPS. She spent the afternoon putting it together and when I got home I helped with the last parts of the assembly. My food intake yesterday consisted of:

1 teriyaki noodle bowl (about 420 calories)
1 bowl of spring onion rice noodle soup (250 calories approximately)
1 Cashew Cookie Larabar (230 calories)
2 helpings of a casserole that consisted of au gratin potatoes from Trader Joe's, layered with fresh zucchini (probably about 600 calories but could be less)

I was full and happy on that. I intend to continue a 1500 calorie daily intake from here on out.

After the bike was finally assembled and dinner was eaten, it was nearly bedtime. I managed to try the machine out for a few minutes, and I can tell I'm going to love it. It really does have fully customizable workout programs, and the higher resistance levels blow away what I could get out of my old recumbent. Of course, this machine requires an AC adapter whereas my other one did not. It is rated for 300 lbs. but seems to be fine handling me. It seems more than sturdy enough to last until I get below that number, which I hope to do in the next 18 months if not sooner.

Today I am having:

1 miso soup bowl (220 calories)
1 cashew cookie Larabar (230 calories)
1 spring onion rice noodle soup (250 calories)
some leftover potato-zucchini casserole (< 600 calories)
2 qts. Trader Joe's low-sodium Garden Patch juice (like V8 but better IMO and only 400 calories to the whole bottle)

When I get home I will be on the bike for 15 minutes with the tension level on lower settings. The cranks are very long so the legs get quite the workout from the pedaling alone. I probably won't have time to get a workout in before leaving for the hospital tomorrow, but I will definitely do so again in the evening. I will let you all know exactly what kind of treatments I'll be receiving, and what my prognosis is.

I can do this. I can win my health back and wake up every day feeling good about me and what I've accomplished. :toast: